September 27, 2026 to October 03, 2026

This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning ICT, cloud computing, digital infrastructure, social media platforms, digital privacy, AI, cybersecurity, blockchain, Web3 and cryptocurrencies. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track other GR news in adjacent industries? Don't miss this week's updates in Finance and Defence. Also consider subscribing to our ICT & Cybersecurity - Washington edition covering critical GR news south of the border.

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Parliamentary Calendar
• 🇨🇦 Federal Government News
• 🗺️ Provincial Government News
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Parliamentary Calendar

• Industry and Technology Committee to Review Bill C-268, Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada: The Industry and Technology Committee will consider Bill C-268, An Act respecting the Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada, on October 6 at 11:00 a.m. The session includes CRTC officials and industry policy leads testifying, with clause-by-clause review scheduled.
• Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics Committee to Discuss AI Regulation: On October 5, the committee will meet in camera from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to finalize its report on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and its regulation.
• Public Safety and National Security Committee to Hear on Security Screening Processes: Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and senior officials will appear before the committee on October 5 to discuss federal security screening practices, including related ICT data policy.
• Public Accounts Committee Examines Benefits Delivery Modernization Programme: The Public Accounts Committee meets October 5 to assess management and technology impacts in the Benefits Delivery Modernization Programme, with testimony from ESDC, Public Works, and Treasury Board representatives.
• Procedure and House Affairs Committee to Study AI and Democratic Institutions: On October 8, the Procedure and House Affairs Committee will convene to hear expert witnesses on artificial intelligence’s potential impact on Canada’s democratic institutions.

Federal Government News

CRTC Mandates New Cellphone Coverage Reporting Standards

On October 2, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) detailed a new framework for cellphone providers to report service coverage. The new standard will provide Canadians with more granular information about wireless coverage, allowing for comparisons between service providers and supporting user feedback where info does not reflect real-world experience. Data collected will inform the National Broadband Map, aiding federal planning through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. The CRTC initiative includes allowing consumers to report on coverage gaps, with input forming part of national infrastructure priorities. Additional measures recently announced by the Commission involve removal of extra fees on wireless and Internet plans, improving consumer notifications relating to plan expirations and discounts, and expanding avenues for switching or cancelling service. These changes aim to facilitate comparison shopping and inform infrastructure investment decisions for network providers.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Canadian Government Details Productivity Mega Deduction Impacting ICT and Network Infrastructure

A series of statements from federal officials—Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree, Secretary of State for Combatting Crime Ruby Sahota, and Secretary of State (Sport) Adam van Koeverden—outlined the new 'Productivity Mega Deduction.' This tax measure, described as the most significant update in decades to Canada’s business tax provisions, allows immediate expensing of a wide range of assets, raising eligible assets from around 15% to 65%. Eligible categories include fibre-optic cable, software, R&D, computer equipment, and other capital central to the ICT and telecom sectors. The permanent expensing regime is being pitched as reducing the marginal effective tax rate on new business investment from approximately 13% to 6.4%. Federal communications state that these changes are designed to provide predictability for long-term infrastructure and technology investment, with specific application for broadband expansion, software platforms, and network modernization.

Sources: www.canada.ca, www.canada.ca, www.canada.ca

Government Advances Public-Private Coordination on Cyber Resilience

On September 29, Public Safety Canada and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) held the initial meeting of the Canadian Cyber Defence Collective Strategic Forum (CCDC-SF) Advisory Council in Ottawa. The forum features participation from major critical infrastructure operators, including ICT providers, and is designed to leverage intelligence sharing and cross-sector coordination. Chaired by Public Safety and CSE, the Strategic Forum is a centerpiece of the 2025 National Cyber Security Strategy, bringing together federal officials and private sector leadership to address both persistent and emergent cyber threats, especially those involving AI. The CCDC-SF structure aims to foster information exchange and preparedness, supporting evolving standards and defensive strategies across telecom, energy, food, and transportation.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Cyber Security Awareness Month Begins with National Information Campaign

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) launched Cyber Security Awareness Month on October 1 under the theme 'Your best defence is you.' The public campaign, forming part of the Get Cyber Safe initiative, focuses on educating Canadians—including businesses and IT staff—about recent trends such as AI-driven cybercrime and advanced phishing. Each week in October is dedicated to topics such as threat recognition, strengthening defences with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, managing information privacy while using online services, and community-level security awareness. The program provides resources aimed at improving day-to-day cyber hygiene and shares actionable guidance for organizations managing data and digital assets.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Minister of National Defence Issues Statement on Rising AI-Supported Cyber Threats

Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty issued a formal statement on October 1 for the start of Cyber Security Awareness Month, noting the increased sophistication of cybercriminals using artificial intelligence to improve targeting and social engineering. The Minister underscored that simple security steps—such as verification of suspicious messages and widespread use of multi-factor authentication—are foundational for resilience. The government is distributing educational materials and encouraging collective vigilance across both individuals and organizations, pointing to the growing intersection of AI, national security, and everyday digital risk management.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Government of Canada Invests in AI-Powered Security Training Technology

On October 1, the Honourable Mona Fortier, on behalf of Minister Evan Solomon, announced an $800,000 investment through FedDev Ontario into H2 Analytics Inc. in Ottawa. The company's Exercise Architect Suite (EASE®) is an artificial intelligence-driven simulation platform designed for large-scale defence and security sector training. The funding supports system upgrades, improved performance under high operational demand, multilingual features, and global market expansion. The government notes that the objective is to enhance the complexity and adaptability of simulation exercises for ICT and security organizations.

Sources: www.canada.ca

Provincial Government News

Nova Scotia Reports High FOIPOP Act Response Rates

Service Nova Scotia published its 2025-26 annual report showing 91% of freedom of information requests processed within statutory deadlines. Adjustments to the FOIPOP administration this year are credited with improvements in handling, and Nova Scotia’s compliance rate ranks second nationally. The report also references ongoing privacy impact assessments for public data management.

Sources: news.novascotia.ca

What We're Reading This Week

• CRTC to create reporting standard for cellphone coverage to identify potential gaps: The Star reports on how CRTC will require new standards for cellphone coverage mapping to aid users and policy-makers.

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